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CTD-000093

Short-lived privileged AD object

Medium
Active Directory
Defense Evasion Privilege Escalation
v39

Signature Identity

CTD-000093
Threat ID
39
Version
IOC
Indicator Type

Threat Description

An AD user who has been added to and then removed from a privileged group may indicate potential threat activities.

NOTE: Cayosoft Guardian defines built-in privileged groups, either direct or indirect (nested) groups in Active Directory as groups with adminCount=1 and a well-known Security Identifier (SID). Any potential target objects are identified as previously identified built-in privileged groups. By design, Active Directory uses this attribute to protect members of administrative groups.

According to security best practices, it is not recommended to reuse admin accounts; instead, these accounts must be de-provisioned. If an account has administrative permissions, it may also gain access to other resources using these permissions and retain this access even after it is removed from the administrative groups. Learn more about AdminSdHolder and SDProp – Microsoft Community Hub.

MITRE ATT&CK: Attack Tactics

Defense Evasion Privilege Escalation

D3FEND: Defend Tactics

Domain accounts monitoring

Remediation

Review the activities of the suspicious user by using Change History in Cayosoft Guardian.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Short-lived privileged AD object mean?

A short-lived privileged Active Directory (AD) object is a user account that has been temporarily added to a privileged group, such as Domain Admins or Enterprise Admins. This can indicate potential threat activities, as the account may have gained elevated permissions and could still retain access even after being removed from the group.

Short-lived privileged AD objects are rated medium severity because they allow attackers to temporarily escalate privileges and access sensitive resources, increasing their capability to move laterally within the network.

Attackers can exploit short-lived privileged AD objects by using them to temporarily gain elevated permissions and access sensitive resources. This can be done while the account is a member of the privileged group, as the elevated permissions are granted during this time.

Cayosoft Guardian detects short-lived privileged AD objects by continuously monitoring Active Directory for changes to user account membership in privileged groups. When a temporary addition is detected, Guardian flags it as a security issue and provides visibility into the potential threat.

Cayosoft Guardian helps reduce the risk by providing real-time monitoring and alerting administrators to review suspicious user activities, change history, and potential threats. This enables teams to quickly identify and respond to incidents, limiting the impact of a potential compromise.

Stop AD Threats As They Happen

Cayosoft Protector provides continuous monitoring and real-time alerts across your entire Microsoft Identity stack

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Classification
Systems
Active Directory
Themes
Account protection Privileged Access Management
Attack Tactics
Defense Evasion Privilege Escalation
Defend Tactics
Domain accounts monitoring
Indicator Types
IOC
Related Threats
CTD-000139
Kerberos Constrained Delegation: krbtgt Risks
Critical
CTD-000122
Active Directory Schema Update Permission Risks
Critical